Page 37 of Grown

Maybe I should wait, until I’m eighteen.

But... what if he finds someone else before then?

“Are you sure this is right? This doesn’t... hello? Earth to Enchanted!”

Gab copies my biology homework with a carrot stick hanging out her mouth.

“Huh? What?”

“Yo, what’s with you lately?”

“Nothing.” I choke out a laugh.

I haven’t told Gab yet. She has a way of asking questions that hit so sharp it could cut me open. Then she’d know.

“Whatever. So, I’m off this Saturday, and Jay is out of town. Want to hang out and do something fun and irresponsible?”

“Thought you said it’s your dad’s weekend?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, well, he’s not speaking to me at the moment.”

“Still? Is it about Jay?”

She shrugs. “So do you want to chill or what?”

I want to pry, but Gab is a wall when it comes to her dad.

“Um, I can’t. I have... something.”

“Swim meet?”

“Um, yeah.”

“Cool. Well, your loss. Guess I’ll just Netflix and chill.”

I swallow, building up the courage. “I’m going to skip school tomorrow.”

Gab raises an eyebrow. “Really? For what?”

“There’s an audition. In the city. Mom isn’t going to take me so... I’m gonna go. Alone. Cover for me?”

Gab leans back with a smirk, impressed. “Well, look at you! This is a whole new Enchanted. Aight, I got you. Kill it!”

Chapter 24

Swim Lessons

Don’t forget your bathing suit.

Korey is waiting in a black-tinted Mercedes one block from the Harlem Metro-North train stop. Inside, it’s like nightfall. His hoodie is pulled up over dark sunglasses that almost take up his entire face. He reaches across the console and wraps me in a tight hug. His smell engulfs me and my body hums with the engine.

“You ready?” he asks.

I nod, afraid my voice will come out as a quiver.

He speeds off, threading his fingers through mine, and I snuggle into the warmth of his heated butter-leather seats, the radio playing Marvin Gaye. I’m in Korey Fields’s car! He picked me up from the station. I’ve never had a boy pick me up before.

Told Gab I was skipping school. Told Mom I had a swim meet in the evening. With all bases covered, we have at least twelve glorious hours to spend together.